Educational Institute of Scotland

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) is the oldest teachers' trade union in the world, having been founded in 1847 when dominies became concerned about the effect of changes to the system of education in Scotland on their professional status.

EIS
Full nameEducational Institute of Scotland
Founded1847
Members54,580
AffiliationSTUC, TUC, EI
Key peopleMargaret Smith, President
Larry Flanagan, General Secretary
Office locationEdinburgh, Scotland
CountryScotland
Websitewww.eis.org.uk

The EIS is the largest teaching union in Scotland, representing 80% of the country's teachers and lecturers. As of 2014 it has 54,580 members.[1] Since being granted a royal charter by Queen Victoria, it is the only union able to award degrees.[2] A recipient of the EIS degree is a Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland, denoted by the post-nominal FEIS.

An early example of such a degree (awarded in December 1847) was worded as follows:[3]

"The Educational Institute of Scotland DIPLOMA OF FELLOW.

We, the Committee of Fellows of the Educational Institute of Scotland, appointed by the General Meeting which was held in the High School of Edinburgh on Saturday the 18th September 1847 to grant Diplomas to those Members admitted within the year 1847 who might be desirous of obtaining the Grade of Junior Licentiate, Senior Licentiate or Fellow, having examined the evidence produced by Mr John Gibson Smith, Schoolmaster of Ednam, in attestation of his professional attainments, experience and skill – and having found that his testimonials certify -

1st That he is qualified to teach English, Grammar, Composition, History, Geography, Writing, Arithmetic, Algebra, Natural Science, Agricultural Chemistry, Latin, Greek and French.

2nd That he has taught with acceptance and success during a period of Twenty years all the above named branches -

Do hereby, on the 11th day of December 1847, grant to the said Mr John Gibson Smith this Diploma conferring on him the Grade of Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland, with all the honours rights and privileges thereto belonging.

(Signed) L. Schmits, George S. Davidson, F.R. Low L.L.D., James Fulton, John White, Alex Reid L.L.D., Walter Nichol L.L.D., Wm. Knox."

General Secretaries
Thomas Henderson
A. E. Cook
1941: John Wishart
1945: Alexander J. Belford
1952: William Campbell
1960: Gilbert Stewart Bryden
1975: John Pollock
1987: Jim Martin
1995: Ronnie Smith
2012: Larry Flanagan

References
  1. "Educational Institute of Scotland: 2014 Annual Return" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  2. "1851 Queen Victoria granted a Royal Charter to the EIS. Membership at the time: over 1,800. Among the powers conferred on the EIS was the power to award a degree of "Fellow of the Institute". In 2007, the EIS remains the only trade union which awards degrees." "History of the EIS". Educational Institute of Scotland. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  3. Handwritten copy by John G. Smith, appended to his letter dated 28 Sep 1864 to Southland Provincial Council, New Zealand - Extracted from Southland Provincial Papers, SP 14 Immigration (at very end of Roll 32) held at Invercargill Public Library, Southland, NZ
  • Handwritten copy by John G. Smith, appended to his letter dated 28 Sep 1864 to the Southland Provincial Council, New Zealand - Extracted from Southland Provincial Papers, SP 14 Immigration (at very end of Roll 32) held at Invercargill Public Library, NZ


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